FNET Not Set If Start Date Removed in Task Information Dialog
  
PSS ID Number: Q126667
Article last modified on 04-04-1995
 
4.00    | 4.00
 
WINDOWS | MACINTOSH
 

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The information in this article applies to:
 
 - Microsoft Project for Windows, version 4.0
 - Microsoft Project for the Macintosh, version 4.0
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SYMPTOMS
========
 
In Microsoft Project, when you use the Task Information dialog box to
enter a finish date for your task, if you delete the value in the
Start Date box, an As Soon As Possible (ASAP) constraint is set for
your task instead of a Finish No Earlier Than (FNET) constraint as
expected.
 
CAUSE
=====
 
This behavior occurs if you delete the value in the Start Date box in
the Task Information dialog box, and you then enter a finish date and
choose OK in the Task Information dialog box. This behavior occurs
whether you delete the initial value that appears in the Start Date
box, or you enter a new value, and then delete that value while the
Task Information dialog box is still open. If the Start Date box is
empty when you choose OK in the Task Information dialog box, the task
is scheduled to start on the project's start date, with a constraint of
ASAP. Likewise, if the task has a start constraint such as MSO, SNET or
SNLT, the task retains its original constraint date.
 
WORKAROUNDS
===========
 
To work around this behavior, use any of the following methods.
 
Method 1: Enter the finish date for the task directly in your project,
          instead of using the Task Information dialog box to enter this
          information.
 
Method 2: Select the FNET constraint type and enter the finish date on the
          Advanced tab in the Task Information dialog box.
 
Method 3: Enter the new finish date and avoid clearing the start date.
 
STATUS
======
 
Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products
listed at the beginning of this article. We are researching this problem
and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it
becomes available.
 
MORE INFORMATION
================
 
Normally, when you enter a finish date for a task, the Finish No Earlier
Than (FNET) constraint is automatically assigned to the task. This
constraint indicates that the task should be finished on or after the
finish date that you specify. However, when you use the Task Information
dialog box to enter the finish date, the FNET constraint is not set for the
task if you enter and then delete a value in the Start Date box.
 
REFERENCES
==========
 
For more information About Working With Task Constraints, choose the
Search button in Help and type:
 
   constraints
 
KBCategory: kbother
KBSubcategory:
 
Additional reference words: 4.00
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Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1995.
